PACKERS CAMP INSIDER

GREEN BAY - Wednesday’s takeaways from the Packers-Jets training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field.

Rodgers OK with these joint sessions

One important difference between the Packers’ joint practices this week with the Jets as opposed to their joint practices with Houston two years ago is increased collaboration between the coaching staffs. That’s been better because of the connections between the teams — coach Matt LaFleur is close friends with new Jets coach Robert Saleh, and LaFleur’s younger brother, Mike, is the Jets’ offensive coordinator. That means the staffs have communicated more about the 11-on-11 scripts, which made for a more productive session Wednesday than some of the work with the Texans.

After practice, quarterback Aaron Rodgers referenced a red-zone period two years ago where the Texans dropped eight players into coverage on numerous snaps.

“If you look at my career in the red zone, dropping eight is not something that’s worked out very well for the defense, so I don’t think that would be in the plan for (a game),” Rodgers said. “It was clouding things up and I thought it was a total waste of a period. The good thing is when you have Robert and Matt, who are best friends, and Matt’s brother, Mike, there’s some cross-script conversations. So if we need a certain look or we’d like to see a certain look on a certain play we can get it. Also it was anything but vanilla today. They ran a bunch of different fronts, they ran pressures, safety pressures, ’backer pressures, they had some great checks. It’s a different feel (from against Houston).” It went both ways. The Packers’ defense ran several blitzes during a third-down period. Eric Stokes probably would have had a sack on No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson on one cornerback blitz. Maybe in part because of the unscouted looks, the Packers’ No. 1 offense was up and down Wednesday. Rodgers, for instance, had a hot stretch during one team period where he hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling

on a deep ball, then completed two of his next three throws — a slant to Equanimeous St. Brown that would have been a nice gain, and a quick slant to Davante Adams that would have been a big gainer. But Rodgers was also pressured into a couple throwaways in that period and the next.

“There are some pretty cool pressure packages that the Jets do that test some of our rules,” LaFleur said before practice. “I told Saleh and those guys over there, don’t hold back, man. It’s a little bit different because typically when you’re going into a game plan you have your protection meeting with everybody in the room — with your O-line, the backs, tight ends, quarterbacks, all the coaches. We didn’t necessarily do that for this, so it really does truly test your rules.”

The Packers are definitely taking a hard look at fourth-round pick Royce Newman as a possible starter at right guard. Newman worked into that mix this week after the three players who were vying for the two starting guards spots — Jon Runyan, Lucas Patrick and Ben Braden — struggled in the preseason opener against Houston. Newman took almost all the snaps at right guard with the starting offense Wednesday, with Runyan getting almost all the work at left guard with the starters.

“Up front we have some things we have to clean up for sure,” Rodgers said after practice, “there’s definitely some jobs to be won.”

Rookie center Josh Myers had a solid performance in the preseason opener but, according to Rodgers, had a “rough day” against the Jets even if the second-round pick’s errors weren’t obvious to an outside observer.

“This is a good learning experience for him, a new defense, not guys in similar spots, different numbers of IDs to make,” Rodgers said. “But every one of these opportunities is definitely a good thing to lock away in the memory banks. Today mentally I don’t think (Myers) was as sharp as he’s been in the past and expect him to bounce back

tomorrow.

“But overall he’s done a really nice job, he really has. He’s comfortable in that position, but we need to see the consistency when I’m in there because things move a little bit quicker. It’s a quicker tempo just against our defense as opposed to bringing in another team to practice like this, which is probably as fast as a preseason game, but the regular season gets picked up even more. We’ve got to get him thinking as fast as I can think.”

QB update

The Packers’ offense won its two-minute drills with Rodgers and backup Kurt Benkert leading touchdown drives on their two chances.

Each of the two-minute drills started with 1:20 to play, and though there was no score on the scoreboard, it appeared the offense was down by at least six points. On Rodgers’ drive he twice hit Valdes-Scantling for about 48 yards total. The first was a 15-yard gain on a quick slant that put the Packers at the Jets’ 33. The second was a 33-yard touchdown three plays later when the Jets blew the coverage and left ValdesScantling uncovered down the middle of the field.

Benkert was the No. 2 because Jordan Love (shoulder) didn’t practice. He was fortunate when Jets cornerback Brandin Echols dropped an interception one play after he’d been flagged for a 33yard pass-interference penalty. Benkert finished the drive on a second-and-goal from the 3 when he stepped up in the pocket and on the move hit Equamimeous St. Brown over the middle for the score.

Injury update

Returned: OLB Rashan Gary (groin).

Didn’t practice: QB Jordan Love (shoulder), WR Chris Blair (ankle), S Vernon Scott (hamstring), WR Juwann Winfree (shoulder).

PUP: T David Bakhtiari (ACL recovery).

Bits and pieces

Several Packers players coming off recent injuries took part in individual work but did little or nothing in team drills: CB Kevin King, RB Aaron Jones, OLB Rashan Gary, DL Dean Lowry and DL Kenny Clark.

Three players dropped out of practice because of injuries: RB AJ Dillon (calf), WR Devin Funchess (undisclosed), T Dennis Kelly (undisclosed). Funchess appeared to hurt his left leg.

The Packers’ two defensive possessions in the two-minute drill ended inconclusively, though their starters forced the Jets into what would have been a final-play Hail Mary that the coaches chose not to run.

The Packers’ starting defense burned a lot of the 1:20 by forcing Wilson and the Jets’ starters to convert two third downs. Then in the final 10 seconds from the Packers’ 39 Wilson threw the ball away on second down. Rather than risk injuries on a Hail Mary jump ball, the coaches ended the possession there with five seconds to play.

The Packers’ No. 2 defense worked only part of the two-minute because practice hit its predetermined time limit. Jets backup QB Mike White faced a fourth-and-2 at his 33 when practice was called.

Quote of the day

“You know, I mess with him. I tell him, ‘Who’s anyone to tell Matty (LaFleur) what to do? He’s 26-6.’ But, no, he’s been great. His confidence is through the roof, which it always was. His leadership skills, you could see all that on display. Especially just talking with him, going through this ( joint practice preparation) and collaborating how detailed and precise he is with exactly what he wants. Just having conversations with him on a daily basis, there’s a reason why he’s in this job, and there’s a reason why this team is having success. He has a lot to do with that.”

— New Jets coach Robert Saleh on Matt LaFleur, who is one of his best friends.

Practice schedule

The Packers’ last practice open to the public will be another joint session with the New York Jets at 10:10 a.m. Thursday at Ray Nitschke Field.